Under the Stars

The air smelt of sea water and the warm breeze rippled through the blades of grass, carrying the voices of Anakin and Jordana through the night air. He had lead her here as a conclusion to the most romantic night he'd ever arranged. This meadow overlooked one of Corellia's oceans as the waves rolled onto the white sand beneath them. The stars were more visible here, sparkling like diamonds against the black velvet sky, and the moon cast it's reflection upon the waves.
"Wow." she breathed.
"You like it, then?"
"It's...amazing."
He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, lightly brushing his fingers along her stomach. She tilted her head to one side, giving him better access to her neck. He glanced up at her and noticed that she was gazing skyward.
"What is it?"
"I just noticed how beautiful the stars look, now that we're not fighting amongst them."
"Jordie, there's something I have to tell you." he whispered in her ear.

Still encircled in his arms she turned to face him, his azure eyes blazing with passion and intensity. She gently pressed herself into him, "What is it, Anakin?"
He gulped, ready to spill his heart to her. Nothing he was about to say had been rehearsed, since the last time he's rehearsed his confession, the overall outcome didn't turn out so well. This time he was going to let his emotions and words blend themselves in a way that his heart saw fit.
"Ever since I was ten years old, you've been the one person I could completely trust. You've known my darkest secrets, my faults, and you've never once turned your back on me or judged me. And when my life crumbled around me, you still stayed and saved me from one of the darkest periods of my life. You are the most loyal and caring woman I've ever known."

He cupped her cheek with his left, human hand and placed a tender kiss on her lips, marveling in how different this kiss was to every one he'd shared with Padme. There was no haze of forbidden temptation, no cloud of anxiety and warning, just a simple, untainted, blissful kiss. When he pulled back and gazed into her eyes, he had an epiphany. He may have had a schoolboy crush on Padme, but it was Jordana that he had truly loved. His dream had shown him that even when he was with Padme, his subliminal self was longing for Jordana. It had been his mind that refused to let go of his first wife, but with this realization, all thoughts of the senator vanished from his mind. All that mattered now was the dazzling young woman in his arms.
"I love you, Jordana. I know now that I always have. I was a fool for not realizing this sooner, but I truly love you."
With that last statement, he leaned towards her and their lips met in a deep, loving kiss.

Jordana could feel the earth beneath her feet begin to sway as her mind sought to accept what he had said. For years, she'd dreamed that one day he'd loved her, and she was having a hard time believing that she wasn't dreaming. But the feeling of Anakin's lips kissing hers knocked down all barriers that still remained in her mind.
She kissed him back, nearly eight years of bottled up emotion poured through her lips as she kissed him passionately.
"I love you too, Anakin." she replied, once their lips had separated.
"You love me?"
"Anakin," she ran her hand along his cheek and through his hair, "I've loved you since I was sixteen."
He realized how long ago that was, and all the events that had transpired during that time. "So that means when Padme and I were married...you loved me?"
"I wanted to tell you so badly that you were making a mistake, that I loved you more than she ever could. But after seeing how happy you were with her, I just couldn't."
He abruptly silenced her with a kiss. "Forget all of that, it's in the past now. Forget the wedding, the war, even the days following the end of the war. All that matters right now is our love. We don't have a past anymore, we have a future."
She playfully twirled her fingers in the hair at the back of his neck, emerald eyes brimming with love and joy.
"I love you so much Anakin."
"I love you too, Jordie."

They shared an intimate kiss before she threw her arms around his neck and embraced him, burying her face into his neck. In his joy, Anakin picked her up and spun around before they fell into the grass, Jordana lying on top of him. He reached up and brushed the hair out of her eyes. He kissed her again, sensually rubbing her back with his hands. She moaned into the kiss and flicked her tongue along his lower lip. He granted her tongue access to his mouth, while using his own tongue to explore her sweet tasting cavern. Propping herself up on one elbow, she glided her other hand under his shirt and began to trace lazy patterns over his athletic abs and chest with her fingertips. Rolling themselves over so that they were laying on their sides, Anakin began kissing along her jaw, then down her neck until he reached the crook of her neck, where his gentle kisses elicited husky gasps from Jordana. His other hand began to outline her hips, treasuring every inch of her like she was a precious gem. Jordana's hand moved from his chest, along his strong shoulders, and down the rippling muscles in his back, gently dragging her nails along his skin. He moaned into her neck, the vibrations sending small waves of electricity shooting throughout her body. Both of them could feel the Force pulsating around them, matching the beating of their hearts. Anakin's lips left her neck and their eyes met in a passionate, loving glance. Each glided their fingertips over the other's flushed cheeks before kissing deeply.

Anakin and Jordana rolled onto their backs, Anakin's arm underneath her, keeping her close to him. As they lay on the ground, watching the stars above them, Anakin remembered what Jordana had said just minutes ago.
"You're right, Jordie." he breathed, taking one of her hands and kissing her knuckles, "The stars are more beautiful now."
"It's because I'm with you that they are."
He lightly kissed her forehead. The two lovers relaxed and watched as the stars seemed to wink down at them from their heavenly position.